Master of Fine Arts in Dance

University of Arizona

The Master of Fine Arts in Dance provides an opportunity to increase knowledge, broaden understanding, and develop research and artistic capability. Building on a well-balanced undergraduate education, graduate students are expected to develop a thorough understanding of the specific discipline of dance, supported by a personal commitment to high scholarly and artistic standards. A fundamental purpose of the School of Dance is to encourage each graduate student to demonstrate outstanding standards of scholarship and to produce high-quality original research and creative work.The diverse graduate population provides a sense of community in which students can learn from various perspectives. In addition, the close alliance between the graduate and undergraduate students provides an opportunity for graduate students to choreograph on and perform with some of the top undergraduate dance students in the country. The triple-track program allows the graduate student to explore and gain experience, skills, and knowledge in ballet, modern, and jazz dance.Unique to the University of Arizona School of Dance MFA program is the opportunity to choreograph a fully produced thesis concert featuring your fellow graduate students and undergraduate dancers. All graduate students are eligible to perform masterworks set on the UA Dance Ensemble. Recent masterwork choreographers include George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Larry Keigwin, Martha Graham, Christopher Wheeldon, Jose Limon, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Jerome Robbins and Jessica Lang. The UA School of Dance also provides many opportunites for community outreach performances at venues such as Diamond Children's Hospital and Tucson Museum of Art. Graduates from the MFA program are teaching professionally at all levels. Many have gone on to become Professors at Universities and Colleges throughout the US and Canada, while many others are teaching K-12, at conservatories, and at dance studios both nationally and internationally. Additionally, many have gone on to work in a variety of positions in professional dance companies. These positions include founder, director, artistic director, rehearsal director and performer.The graduate curriculum in dance allows the student to focus on teaching, research, choreography or performance for dance. It also provides opportunities for interdisciplinary studies with other arts, humanities and sciences in support of the student’s development as a scholar, teacher and artist.The M.F.A. degree has two emphasis areas that allow for intensive focus in performance or choreography. The program facilitates and nurtures dance artists in their area of emphasis while offering a comprehensive graduate education in dance. The M.F.A. degree is 60 units requiring 2-3 years of residency at the University of Arizona. The curriculum includes core courses and dance technique as well as courses in theory and pedagogy.

College of Fine Arts